[10.5] the equilibrium constant Kc - part 1

Question 1

what does an equilibrium constant provide?

Answer 1

the actual position of equilibrium

Question 2

what is the formula for Kc?

Answer 2

for the general reaction: aA +bB ⇌ cC + dD
the equilibrium constant is given (Kc) is given by:
[C]ᶜ[D]ᵈ (products)
—————————
[B]ᵇ[A]ᵃ (reactants)

Question 3

what do the square brackets, small and big numbers represent in the general reaction?

Answer 3

• square brackets, [ ], are shorthand for ‘concentration of’
• a, b, c, d are the balancing numbers of in the overall equation
• [A], [B], [C], [D] are the equilibrium concentrations of the reactants and products of this equilibrium

Question 4

what does a Kc value of 1 indicate?

Answer 4

a position of equilibrium that is halfway between reactants and products

Question 5

what does a Kc value > 1 indicate?

Answer 5

a position of equilibrium that is towards the products

Question 6

what does a Kc value < 1 indicate?

Answer 6

a position of equilibrium that is towards the reactants

Question 7

what does the size of the Kc value indicate?

Answer 7

the larger the value of Kc, the further the position of equilibrium lies to the right-hand side and the greater the concentration of the products compared to the reactants and vice versa